The Reel Story

By Katherine Nichols

Published: 2004.04.01 12:00 AM

Honolulu's
Art House Theatres may have closed, but there's a new, more accessible venue for
independent film lovers and aspiring filmmakers in the Islands. On April 19, OC
16 will begin a series of 12 half-hour magazine-format programs on Hawai'i's film
community called Hawai'i's Reel Stories. It will cover feature films, documentaries,
cinematographers, actors, writers, music, animation, film festivals, techs behind
the camera and Neighbor Island productions.

It's the brainchild of Don
Brown, former manager of the Restaurant Row 9 Art House Theaters. When he promoted
a program that invited local filmmakers to showcase their work in the theaters,
"it opened my eyes to how much was going on," he says. "There's all this grass
roots activity; I was really blown away by how varied the work was."

Along
with co-producer and veteran independent filmmaker Stephanie Castillo, Brown's
goal is to let people in the state know about the exciting work-that often goes
unnoticed-coming from its residents.

Each show features a main story, a
point-of-view segment from someone in the industry, a short (maybe an interview
with a producer about what motivated him to complete the film), a profile of someone
in the Islands and a work in progress, such as talking to the writer of the upcoming
Sony feature film Kamehameha.

Though Brown and Castillo are well qualified
to produce, write, shoot and edit the show, they have invited independent producers
to present ideas, then submit completed segments. Hosts Cathy Tanaka and Jason
Suapaia will open and close the show, occasionally conduct interviews and connect
the parts. "We want to give filmmakers the creativity to show themselves," says
Castillo. "We've really given them a lot of latitude. Every show is going to be
different. Every segment is going to be an individual signature of its producer."

Still,
this doesn't mean that Castillo and Brown, the executive producer and an American
Film Institute graduate, will merely paste the show together. Both are generating
numerous segments. Brown just returned from shooting at the Sundance Film Festival,
where several Hawai'i-made films attracted plenty of attention. His piece will
appear in the first episode.

So far, without any major sponsors, "everyone's
working for love," says Castillo. But that doesn't seem to matter. Their passion
for the project is huge.

"We wanted to help build an identity for Hawai'i's
filmmaking community," says Castillo. It's active, vibrant, diverse. It contributes
to the state's economy and culture. "Yet nobody knows about us."

Castillo
also hopes that with the increased statewide exposure-highlighting work and artists
on the Neighbor Islands is a priority-and promotions available through Oceanic
Cable's vast reach, people will view the industry as worth supporting. "When we're
seen as collective, it's a powerful vision," she said.

And who knows what
could come next? In-flight entertainment, cable stations on the Mainland, other
cities around the country following suit with their local filmmakers. After all,
the entire concept revolves around people in the process of making their dreams
come true.

APRIL
HEADS UP!

April
3 is Dont Go to Work Unless Its Fun Day. It falls on Saturday.

On
April 4, Daylight Savings Time begins on the Mainland, so California is suddenly
three, New York six hours ahead.

Easter
is April 11 this year. State workers, but not many others, get April 9, Good Friday,
as a holiday. Most schools are out.

Dont
plan on going to Hilo for Easter weekend, since thats also the weekend of
the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Something
to sing about: April 18 to 24 is National Karaoke Week. Its also Administrative
Assistants Week, which means restaurants are crowded at lunch.

Earth
Day is sometime in April. Since its a grassroots holiday, dates vary. If
you neglect to hug a tree, you can always make up for it on April 30, Arbor Day.